Search - Haram, Duke Quartet :: Frame

This CD is a home run.

O. Angel Negrin | Austintown, OH, USA | 05/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As an owner of over 600 concert saxophone CD's, I feel that this particular one is far and away the best soprano saxophone album ever recorded. Here's why:The soloist: Simon Haram is a fresh young artist and champion of the soprano saxophone. He possesses a highly polished technique which facilitates his unique exciting artistic phrases and shapes. There is simply no other saxophonist like him.The composers: Philip Glass and Michael Nyman are two of the most successful and loved composers of today. "Facades" by Glass is a time-honored favorite from his Glassworks suite, and Nyman's "The Piano Sings" is a fresh take on themes from his romantic film score to the Jane Campion film "The Piano". Both of these works are effectively arranged here for saxophone with string quartet. Graham Fitkin is an exciting new composer of post-minimalist music, and is duly represented with three of his saxophone works on this CD. His "Hard Fairy" for saxophone and two pianos is a driving, pedal-to-the-metal piece which is at the same time very pleasing to the ear.Yes, this is new music, but this is new music that is accessible to and loved by everyone from your mailman to the professor of composition at the local college. I highly recommend this CD to those who aspire to be performers on the soprano saxophone as well as anyone else who has not heard anything more artistic than Kenny G on the soprano.OANegrin"